NOTE: The county has set up an email address for comments on the proposed Zoning Ordinance at zoningcomments@nelsoncounty.org -------------------------------------------------------- UPCOMING: - Tuesday, September 14 - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 2:00/7:30pm Courthouse - Wednesday, September 15 - PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION ON ZONING - 7:30pm Courthouse - Tuesday, September 21 - PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE -7:00pm High School Auditorium - Wednesday, September 22 - PLANNING COMMISSION 7:30pm Courthouse ------------------------------------------------------------ NELSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Thursday, September 09, 2004 Present: Mr. Hale, Mr. Hall, Mr. Wheaton, Ms. Powell, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Pritchett (Staff: Ms. Corum) Absent: Mr. Spencer FINAL REPORT ON LEISURE PRODUCTS (DBA California Sidecar) BOND - Mr. Hale reported that the deed and bill of sale had been executed. He presented the Treasurer with a bill for $1,760 in legal fees related to the sale. GATEWAY SIGNS - Ms. Corum reported that a representative from Byrd Enterprises (the business making the signs) and county staff would be meeting with a representative from VDOT on Friday, September 10 for a final inspection of the proposed location for the sign for the northern county entrance on Rt. 29. Mr. Hale agreed to attend that meeting. LOAN AGREEMENT UPDATE - In July 2004, the EDA voted to loan a business prospect $20,800 for a market feasibility study contingent on the prospect: 1. repaying the loan at 4% interest within two years; and 2. supplying a copy of the market feasibility study to the EDA. As follow up, Ms. Powell reported that the contract has gone to the prospect's attorney for review. Authority members voted 6-0 (Armstrong/Hall motion) to authorize Mr. Hale (Chairman) to execute the loan documents on behalf of the EDA contingent on receipt of the appropriate legal opinions. REVISION OF AUTHORITY BYLAWS TO REFLECT NAME CHANGE - Authority members voted 6-0 (Powell/Armstrong motion) to adopt the revised Bylaws changing the name from Nelson County Industrial Development Authority to Nelson County Economic Development Authority. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY/BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SPECIAL MEETING Present: EDA members as listed above; Ms. Brennan, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Harris (Staff: Mr. Carter, Ms. Corum) Absent: Mr. Wood, Mr. Bruguiere Ms. Debbie Kurtz and Ms. Betsy Michael with 310 Ltd (Richmond, VA) presented information on their work to-date as consultants preparing the Target Market Study with the purpose of receiving input from the two Boards before preparing their final recommendations. Ms. Kurtz and Ms. Michael have spent several days in the county interviewing businesses and citizens and researching the area to assist the county in identifying compatible businesses and industries and to develop a plan for marketing the county to those identified businesses. Ms. Kurtz noted that with over 18,000 economic development organizations in the US competing for approximately 1,200 businesses expanding or changing, the competition to attract business is stiff. She reviewed the primary factors for developing a marketing strategy: 1. Positioning the county in such a way as to be attractive to the target industries; 2. Examining the existing industry and identifying any clusters of like industries; and 3. Making a sustained effort rather than a one-time campaign. Ms. Kurtz then reviewed some of the possible perceptions of Nelson from a 1999 VA Tech Summit Report: Favorable Perceptions - Natural beauty; friendly people; good work ethic; central location in VA; Highway 29; two elementary schools; low unemployment; moderate climate; close to Charlottesville; land for tourism development and agriculture; Wintergreen Less Favorable Perceptions - Lack of water; terrain; "no change" attitude; leakage to other counties; little retail; lack of technology (phone, fiber); affordable housing or rentals; absentee residents Ms. Michael said that there had also been comments during several interviews about "Virginia Slow" - a slow-paced, slow-moving, slow-thinking work force. During discussion of little retail, Mr. Harvey said that the county is not in the market for a Walmart, that the county is a unique and special area. He also noted that water and sewer is available in the areas identified for possible development. Mr. Wheaton said that he did not know how the county could get around labor force and housing issues. Ms. Brennan said that there are many kinds of industry that do not require large workforces. Ms. Kurtz then reviewed comments received from targeted interviews with five Nelson businesses - a mix of tourism-related, manufacturing and agriculture-related businesses. Most noted labor concerns, several noted land cost concerns for expansion and one noted concerns with the inability to advertise their services in a "fractured" county. All offered suggestions for ways to bring in new business and expand on the clusters already here. Ms. Kurtz noted two clusters of business in the county: Agribusiness - orchards, vineyards, suppliers to same; and Tourism - service industries, supporting businesses, restaurants. She then noted that from the 1999 VA Tech Summit Report, Summit participants indicated?"Tourism development offers the most growth potential and has the highest level of public support." Ms. Kurtz reviewed the Assets & Liabilities for Industry Attraction including operational costs (water, electricity, land); skilled and available labor (and types of degreed labor); livability benefits (cost of housing, local beauty, schools); educational institutions and work force training programs; etc. Finally, Ms. Kurtz suggested that the county consider starting the process with retention strategies for existing businesses - identifying the problems those businesses face and how the county might help. She said that the final report would include recommendations for target industries and strategies for marketing to those industries. Ms. Brennan said that the county probably did not need to create large numbers of new jobs. She asked whether looking a why people are commuting to other areas to work would be helpful. Ms. Kurtz said that it would, that there are many issues to look at in developing an overall marketing strategy. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OF INTEREST: - Volunteers needed - Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival - Saturday, September 25 - Lee Park in downtown Charlottesville. For information, call Mike Craig at 823.8709 (daytime). - September 30 Sixth Annual Regional Economic Development Symposium - hosted by Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development - "It's Time for a Common Vision" featuring regional overview, changing needs of five major employers, and challenges of remaining #1 with Eva Klein. Piedmont Virginia Community College/V. Earl Dickinson Building 9 am - 12 noon Registration and Coffee/Donuts at 8:30 a.m. There is no fee but reservations required. RSVP/Questions to Sue Friedman 434.979.5610 sue@tjped.com - Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population (ASAP) Conference - "Number One Today - But Tomorrow?" Will this still be the "Best Place to Live" when our population doubles? Purpose: to stimulate informed discussion about local population growth, and provide accurate information about the need and ability of localities to control their demographic fates. Saturday, October 2, 2004, from 9:00 am to 12:45 pm. Registration (free - with coffee and donuts) will be from 8:30 to 9:00. Lane Auditorium in the Albemarle County Office Building. The headline speaker will be Jim Burton, the Loudoun County Supervisor who gave an impressive presentation at ASAP's 2002 conference. ------------------------------------------------------------------ This report, sent to over 580 Nelson County citizens, was made possible by the generous donations of Rural Nelson members and supporters. We need your help to continue this service. Please consider donating. Kim T. Cash Field Officer Rural Nelson, Inc. P. O. Box 401 (622 Front Street) Lovingston, VA 22949 434.263.5000 Email: info@ruralnelson.org www.ruralnelson.org